Blank dispenser



Oct. 9, 1962 0. G. JEDDELOH BLANK DISPENSER Filed Maroh 8, 1960 INVENTR.

Ofio Cade ddeloh United States Patent Ofifice 3,057,326 Patented Oct. 9,1962 3,057,326 BLANK DISPENSER tto G. Jeddeloh, 266 Lathrop Road, GrantsPass, Greg. Filed Mar. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 13,529 8 Claims. (CI. 118-236}This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing blanks, and moreparticularly to apparatus for storing a plurality of blanks thatincludes mechanism for removing blanks, one at a time, when needed, andpassing the same over a rotating applicator roll whereby the blank maybe prepared for use.

In the manufacture of plywood, it is common practice to repairimperfections on the face of completed panels by applying patches to thepanels. Panels may contain pitch pockets, pin knots, cracks, bad joints,broken corners, etc. and these imperfections are repaired by routing outsurface portions of the panel and inserting into the cavity formed acovering patch. Common patches used are the socalled bull nose patch(which is a medium-Iong fiat patch With rounded ends) and the shim patch(which is an elongated, relatively narrow wooden strip). In applying apatch, the usual technique has comprised manually either to apply glueto a panel and and then pick up a patch and place it thereover, or pickup a patch, apply glue to its underside and set the patch in place.Couventional practices however, have been time consuming, since aworkman has had to drop any tools that he is working with, thence pickup a patch from a pile, and perform the glue application as anotherstep.

A general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide nova]apparatus for ejecting blanks, such as patches, one at a time, from astack, wherein the patches during their removal from the stackautomatically have material such as glue applied to one of their facesthereby preparing them for insertion into a panel.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus wherein patches may 'beremoved one at a time from a stack, such apparatus being operable firstto shift the bottom patch of the stack laterally from the stack over anapplier roll Without completely removing the patch, and then to hold thepatch in a partially removed state With an end exposed and in aconvenient position for an operator to grasp hold of the patch.

In applying glue to a patch, a rotatable applier-roll device has manyadvantages, and such normally is constantly driven, in order that a thinfilm of still liquid adhesive always be carried on its surface. Foradhesive to be applied evenly over the face of 9. patch, it is importantthat the patch be pressed firmly down on the roll as it passesthereover. A feature and object of the invention is to provide adispenser for patches wherein a patch is ejected partially from a stackwhile being moved over a normally constantly driven applier roll, soconstructed that the patch presses firmly against the roll when it ispassed thereover, and also constructed so that the patch after itspartial removal is not shifted in position under the action of the rollbut instead maintained in a partially removed condition. According tothis invention, a patch is maintained in a partially removed statethrough the expedients of (1) applying a pinching pressure to the trailend of the patch as the same is removed which resists displacement ofthe patch, and (2) providing guide means defining a path of travel for 3patch that functions to guide a patch against the surface of the applierroll at enough of an angle to produce good pressure of the ap plicationof glue, but at an angle sufiicient to produce frictional grabbing ofthe patch by the roll such as Would overcome the resistance to movementresulting from the pinching pressure on the patch.

A further, more specific object is to provide a dispenser constructionwhich includes ejection mechanism whereby one patch at a time is firstengaged and then moved forwardly over a roll as described, such ejectionmechanism undergoing an operating stroke during the removal of a patch,such operating stroke being limited so that it is insufiicientcompletely to remove a patch.

-A still further object is to provide, in a dispenser having a rotatingapplier roll, nove] guide structure operable to defiect a patch againstthe roll as it is drawn thereover.

A still further specific object is to provide a guide structure forsupporting elongated shim patches after they are removed from acollection of the patches and then drawn over the surface of an applierroll.

These and other objects and advantages are obtained by the invention,the same being described hereinbelow in conjunction With theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the dispenser, showing at the top of thedispenser holders for supporting stacks of patches, and generallybeneath such holders ejection mechanism for removing patches one at atime from such stacks, and in the path of the patches as they areremoved from the stacks an applier-roll mechanism for applying glue totheir undersurfaces;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1, viewingfrom left to right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a type of applier roll that may be used in the invention,removed from the apparatus better to illustrate details of itsconstruction;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portions of an applier roll and guidestructure that guides a patch over its surface; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the holders in the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates generally the frame of anembodiment of the apparatus, such frame having a suitable base wherebythe apparatus may be supported on a table or similar supporting surface.In the embodiment illustrated, it is contemplated that the dispenser andits frame be light and compact enough t0 enable relatively easy movingof the dispenser from one location -to another. Frame 10 supports at thetop of the unit a pair of holders or hoppers, 14, 16 for bull nasepatches. At the rear of the unit or to the right in FIG. 1 is anelongated hollow hopper 17 for shim patches. Mounted at the forward endof the frame or to the left of the frame in FIG. 1 is applier roll orapplicator mechanism 18 for applying adhesive to the bottom Surfaces ofpatches. Completing a general description of the device, underneathhoppers 14, 16 is ejection mechanism 20, used in shifting patches one ata time from hoppers 14, 16 over applied-roll mechanism 18.

Considering now specific details of the components just brieflyoutlined, and first of all holders or hoppers 14, 16, these are securedto frame 10 through a top plate 26 that is made integral with the frame.Each hopper takes the form of an elongated upright metallic casingsubstantially rectangular in cross section. Thus,considering hopper 14,and With reference to -FIGS. 1 and 5, this comprises a continuous sidewall 8, a pair of continuous end walls 30 and 32, and a side wall 34opposite side wall 28, defined by flanges 34a, 34b, that is open alongthe length of the hopper. In cross section, the interior of each hopperhas the approximate size of the patch which is to be stored therein.Thus patches may be stored in a hopper as a stack. At the base of eachhopper is a floor 36, and this supports the bottom patch of a stack.Over the top patch in a stack is placed a weght 38 which may be providedWith a handle 39. The opening along the length of side wall 34 enableshandle 39 to protrude outwardly from one side of a hopper With theweight still free to move down in a casing as the height of a stackdecreases. The opening also afEords an operator a means visualIy tocheck the contents of each hopper.

Forward end wall 32 of each hopper, adjacent fioor 36, is provided Withguide means of structure defining a path accommodating the removal of asingle blank or patch from the stack by shifting it laterally to oneside of the hopper. Thus there is formed in end wall 32 an opening 41,and integral with side walls 28, 34 and projecting forwardly of theopening are finger portions 42, 43. Over the top of the opening andsecured to end wall 32 is a spring 46, with a turned over lower end thatis positioned to press downwardly against the top of a patch removedfrom the hopper and passed thereunder. The spring and fingers operate toguide a patch forwardly from end wall 32 and also to defiect it slightlydownwardly as it emerges from the hopper, as perhaps best illustrated inFIG. 4.

Hopper 17, used for shim patches, comprises a metal cylinder closed :atits base so that it can hold a number of such patches on end. Shimpatches may have a length of sorne 30 or 40 inches, and it has beenfound oonvenient because of their length to store them as a bundle ofpatches on end.

With reference to ejection mechanism 21), to the rear of each hopper 14,16 is a horizontal push plate 50, of small enough Width to fit betweenthe side walls of the hopper that is in front -of it, mounted on astandard 52. Each push plate is supported =at a level slightly above thehopper floors .36. End walls 30 of the hopper (those in front of thepush plates) are provided with openings 54, accommodating the insertionof the forward ends of the push plates therethrough. Each push plate hasa thickness that is somewhat less than the thickness of a patch. Inoperation, when a push plate is inserted into an opening 54, it firstengages the rear edge of a patch, and on further movement of the pushplate, it operates to push the patch forwardly and out of an opening 41.

Each push plate 50 is reciprocated back and forth by means of a rod 56,that is slidably mounted on wall portions 58 that extend between thesides of frame 10. Such wall portions are notched at 60 to receive therods. At the forward end of each rod is a handle 62, used in moving therod back and forth.

Applier-roll or applicator mechanism 18 is mounted in a box-likestructure 66, and this structure 66 in turn is supported on the sidewalls of frame 10, and secured in place as by screws 68. Structure 66along its backside has a transverse wall 70, and this wall constitutes ameans limiting forward movement of the push plates. Thus the push plate50 for hopper 14 may be moved by moving its standard 52 to the dashedposition indicated at 52a, and thence further forward travel isprevented by reason of the fact that its standard 52 strikes wall 70. Inthis dashed position 52a, a patch ejected y the plate, such as patch 71,is partially, but not completely removed from the stack, and has itsrear end pinched between the patches and weight above the patch and thefloor 36 below the patch. Note that the forward end of patch 71 in thisposition protrudes quite far forwardly of the hopper and is in aposition easily to be grab-bed by an operator. The push plate 50 forhopper 16 is similarly constmcted, and When moved -to its forward lim-itposition does not completely eject a patch, :but only partially removesthe patch. In moving forwardly from the positions shown in solidoutlines in FIG. 1 to the forward limit positions defined by wall 70-,the push plates of the ejector mechanism undergo what is referred to asan operating stroke, and as noted such operating strokes are insuflcientcompletely to remove patches from the hoppers.

Guide structure slightly different from that -discussed in connectionwith the hoppers 14, 16 is provided for directing shim patches stored inhopper 17 against the applierroll mechanism. Specifically, across therear end of the apparatus is an elongated wire support 72 secured at itsends t-o frame 10. Intermediate positions of the support arch upwardlyfrom the frame, and are provided Wi-th a pair of concave bends 74. Theseconcave bends are to cradle the rear ends of shim patches, Adjacent toappIier-roll mechanism 18 at the forward end of the unit is a pair oftunnel guides 76 (one is provided for each bend 74) each With convergingside walls 78 and top and bottom walls 80, 32. These receive the forwardends of shim patches threaded through their hollow interiors. Thesupport and tunnel guides are separate and spaced apart structures, androom is provided an operator manually to grasp a center portion of ashim patch that has its ends supported in a funnel guide and one of thebonds 74. In using the guide structure, a shim patch is inserted throughone of the funnel guides and its other end rested in a bond 74. Afterthis the patch may be advanced through the guide by grasping its middleand forcing it to the left in FIG. 1.

In the case of hoppers 14-, 16, the organization of Weights providing apinching pressure on the patches contained therein oonstitutes a meansoffering resistance to movement of a patch along its path of travelrelative to the hopper, whereby a patch tends to lue held in place afterpartial removal. In the case of the guide structure comprising support72 and guides 76, the constriction resulting from the converging wallsof the guides per- -forms this function.

Considering the applier-roll mechanism l8, this comprises a shaftmounting a series of grooved rolls indicated at 92, 93, 94 and 95,spaced along the shaft. The grooves of each roll are defined by annularflanges, shown for roll 93 at 9911 and 991). The shaft is journalled atits ends in end walls 96, 98 of the box-like structure 66, and securedto one end is a pulley wheel 100. In normal Operation, the applierrollis driven constantly, and drive to the applier-roll is from :a motor 102mounted Within framework 10 toward the rear f the unit through a belt104 trained Over pulley 100.

Shaft 90 extends transversely of the path of patches leaving funnelguides 76 and the guide structure at the base of each of the hoppers.Portions of the circumferential surfaces of rolls 92 and (these surfacesconstituting glue-applying surfaces), rotate in the paths that the guidestructures define for the patches -during their travel forwardly in theunit. Thus, considering the guide structure at the base of hopper 14(fingers 42-, 43, spring 46 and opening 41), and referring to FIG. 4,this guid structure is operable to direct 3. patch travelingtherethrough against upper surface portions of the grooved roll directlyin front, these upper surface portions moving in the path of the patch.The patch, on traveling toward the roll, is directed downwardly on theroll and impinges on the roll at an angle which is sufi'icient toproduce good contact With the roll. The angle, While sufficient to causegood contact, is not so great as to cause "any frictien between the rolland the patch to overcome the punch pressure produced by weight 38 andthe resistance to movement of the patch that results. In the case of theguide structure for the shim patches (funnel guides 76 and support 72),the funnel guides perform similarly, and operate to direct the lead endof a patch downwardly on the roll directly in front.

Completing the description of the appIier-roll mochanism, indicates ashield oovering the roll mechanism where access to rolls 9295 is notnecessary. A reservoir for glue is indicated at 114, such reservoircomprising spaced inner and outer walls 116 and 118, respectively. Thespace 119 between the inner and outer walls is used for circulating-cooling water, helpful in preventing the contents of the reservoir fromprematurely hardening. Supply and exhaust conduits 120, 122 connect withthis space.

Explaining briefiy the operation of the apparatus, should an operatorwant a relatively short patch from hopper l4, he pulls the rod 56,connected to the push plate for the hopper, until the rod reaches itslimit position, determined by its standard 52 striking wall 70. Thispositions a patch in the position of patch 71 in FIG. 1. On travellingfrom the hopper, this patch is directed downwardly on the surface ofapplier-roll 94 in front of the hopper by spring 46. On contacting theroll, the spring gives slightly and the patch may flex to some extent,which enables the patch to travel over the roll to the position shown.The pinch pressure produced on the tail end of the patch is suflicientto hold the patch in place, against any moving effect of the rotatingapplierroll. The patch has glue applied to most of its bottom face bythe roll, and an operator on grasping its exposed end may pull theremainder of the patch over the roll, with glue being applied to theremainder of its bottom face. If push plate 50 is then returned, on asucceeding actuation a similar result coeurs. The ejector mechanism forthe larger of the hoppers 16 performs substantially in the same manner.Shim patches, as already indicated are fed manually over the applierroll mechamsm.

The groove provided the circumference of each roll fuuctions to guideforward portions of a patch squarely over the roll. Many patches havebeveled edges, and by using grooved applier rolls, glue can be applied,not only to the bottoms of the patches, but also to their beveled edges.

The apparatus of the invention has been found to speed up considerablypatching of the imperfections in plywood panels. It is appreciated thatthe invention has been explained in connection With the patching ofplywood panels, but this is for reasons of illustration, and it isobvious that the aparatus could be used in similar or relatedoperations. It is also obvious that changes in the construction andparts can be made Without departing from the invention. It is intendedto cover all modifications and variations of the invention that would beapparent to one skilled in the art and that come Within the scope of theappended clairns.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semirigid blanks of given lengthcomprising a holder with sides and a base for holding a stack of suchblanks, guide means defining a path adjacent said base and through aside of said holder accommodating the removal of a single blank from thestack by sliding it laterally out from under the stack, a rotatableapplicator mounted for rotation about an axis extending transversely ofsaid path and having a circumferential glue-applying surface thatrotates partially in said path at a distance from said holder that isless than the length of a blank, said applicator engaging the undersideonly of a blank moved in said path and there being unobstructed spaceopposite the applicator and above such a blank, means below said pathfor supplying glue to said applicator, and ejector mechanism constructedon actuation to engage an edge of a blank and shift the same apredetermined distance along said path and against said glue-applyingsurface, said ejector mechanism being constructed so that thepredetermined distance it moves a blank is sufficient to move the blankonto said applicator but insufficent completely to remove a blank fromsaid holder.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said rotatable applicator comprisesa grooved applier roll with opposed side flanges that operate to confinea blank from lateral movement as the same passes against the roll onleaving said guide means.

3. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semi-rigid blanks of givenlength, comprising a horizontally disposed rotatable and normallyconstantly driven glueapplier roll having an unobstructed space above itand bounded by a glue-applying surface about its circumference, a holderwith sides and a base constructed to hold a stack of blanks positionedto one side of said applier roll, guide means defining a path adjacentsaid base and through a side of said holder accommodating the removal ofa single blank from a stack by sliding it laterally out from the stack,means ofiering resistance to movement of a blank relative to saidholder, said guide means defining a path for a blank during its removalfrom the holder that extends substantially normally of the rotation axisof the glue-applier roll and into upper portions of said glue-applyingsurface and that is shorter than the length of a blank, said guide meansalso being constructed to guide a blank so that it impinges on saidsurface at an angle which is great enough to produce good contactbetween the blank and surface but not so great as to cause anyfrictional grab between the surface and the blank sufficient to overcomethe resistance of the means offering resistance to movement of a blank,means below said path for supplying glue to said applier roll, andmechanism for shifting a blank through said passage and along said pathand into said surface, said mechanism on actuation moving the blank alimited distance that is sufficient to cause the blank to come incontact with the applier roll but insufficient to cause complete removalof a blank from said holder.

4. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semi-rigid patches, comprising arotatable and normally constantly driven glueapplier roll having aglue-applying surface about its circumference, guide means defining apath for a patch that extends normally of the rotation axis of theglue-applier roll and into the glue-applying surface of the roll, meansotering resistance to movement of a patch along said path, said guidemeans also being constructed to guide a patch so that it impinges onsaid surface at an angle which is great enough to produce good contactbetween the patch and surface but not so great as to cause anyfrictional grab between the surface and the patch sufficient to overcomethe resistance of the means offering resistance to movement of a patch,and means for shifting a patch through said guide means and against saidsurface.

5. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semirigid patches, comprising arotatable and normally constantly driven glue-applier roll having aglue-applying surface about its circumference and guide means defining apath for a patch that extends normally of the rotation axis of theapplier-roll and into the glueapplying surface of the roll, said guidemeans comprising a funnel member adjacent the roll for receiving one endof a patch with wall portions for guiding all sides of a patch, andseparate from and positioned radially of said roll a support forsupporting the opposite end of the patch, the space between the funnelmember and support being unobstructed so as to enable manualmanipulation of middle portions of a patch positioned with its ends insaid funnel member and on said support, the wall portions of said funnelmember defining a constriction that offers resistance to movement of apatch therethrough and also being constructed to guide a patch so thatit impinges on said surface at an angle which is great enough to producegood contact between the patch and surface but not so great as to causefriction between the surface and a patch to overcome the resistanceofered by the constriction of the funnel member.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said applierroll has a groovedglue-applying surface that operates to confine a patch from lateralmovement as the same passes against the roll on leaving said guidemeans.

7. A dispenser for elongated wood patches comprising a frame and anupright hollow casing mounted on the frame adapted to hold a stack ofpatches, a base provided the casing and means for pressing patches insame stack held in the casing against said base, guide means defining apath adjacent the base and through a side of said casing accommodatingthe removal of a single patch from said stack held in the casing bysliding it laterally out from under the stack and through the side ofthe casing, a patch on its removal from such said stack being pinchedbetween patches disposed thereabove and said base, a rotatable normallyconstantly driven applicator mounted for the most part -below the pathof a patch during its removal from the casing for rotation about an axisextending transverseiy of said path, said applicator havng acircumferential glue-applying surface that rotates partially in saidpath at a location spaced from the casing a distance less than thelength of a patch, said applicator engaging the underside only of apatch moved in said path and there being unobstructed space opposite theapplicacor and above such a patch, means for supplying glue to saidapplicator spaced below said path for a patch, and ejector mechanismconstructed on actuation t0 engage an edge of a patch disposed in saidcasing and shift the sarne a predetermned distance along said path ontosaid glu&applying surface, said ejector mechanism being constructed sothat the predetermined distance it moves a patch is sufficient to movethe patch onto said applicator but insufficient completely t0 remove thepatch from said casing.

8. A dispenser for elongated rigid and semirigid blanks of given lengthcomprising a holder with sides for holding a stack of such blanks, guidemeans adjacent one and of a stack of blanks in said holder defining apath through a side of said holder and accommodating the removal of asingle blank from the stack by sliding it laterally out from the stack,a rotatable applicator moumed for rotation about an axis extendingtransversely of said path and having a circumferential glue-applyingsurface chat rotates partially in said path at a distance spaced fromsaid holder that is -less than the length of said blank, said applicatorengaging one side only of a blank moved in said path and there -beingtmobstructed space opposite said applicator on the other side of such ablank, means for supplyiug g1ue to said applicator, and ejectormechanism constructed on actuation to engage an edge of a blank andshift the same a predetermined distance along said path against saidglue-applyiug surface, said ejector mechanism being constructed so thatthe predctermned distance it moves a blank is sufficient to move theblank onto said applicator but insuficent completely to remove a blankfrom said holder.

Refcrences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS537,903 Reinhardt Apr. 23, 1895 1,025,926 Runy-an May 7, 1912 2,442,335Bauer June 1, 1948

